A league source told ESPNDallas.com on Sunday that the Dallas Mavericks have been in touch with the LeBron James' camp in an attempt to set up a meeting with the holy grail of the upcoming free agent season. According to a New York Times report, five teams already have meetings set with James in Ohio on Thursday, the first day of free agency: the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. - ESPN
Team sources re-confirmed over the weekend that Nowitzki, as reported by ESPN.com in mid-May, will formally notify the Mavericks and the league office of his decision to walk away from next season's $21.5 million salary before Wednesday's deadline to do so in his current contract. - ESPN
Well, today, Italy-based La Repubblica made that fantastical dream seem just a bit closer to reality. In a piece running on the sports page, Kobe gave the depressed journalists covering the World Cup some bon mots to run with today. “Yes, I would love to end my career in Italy. I have a lot of friends in Emilio [a region in northern Italy] and Milan.” Kobe went on to state that such an occurrence wouldn’t happen anytime soon (to be sure), but did describe the possibility as a “dream.” (The key quote, presumably given in Italian, as Kobe is fluent, reads: “Sì, è vero, mi piacerebbe moltissimo chiudere la mia carriera giocando in Italia. Ho tanti amici a Reggio Emilia e Milano. Adesso no, ma è un sogno che realizzerò”) - Ball In Europe
Miller and guard Ray Allen are expected to be the Celtics’ two top priorities in free agency following the retirement of Rasheed Wallace and a knee injury to Kendrick Perkins. - Yahoo! Sports
Jerry Colangelo will listen to New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov about replacing Rod Thorn as team president if Prokhorov chooses to reach out to him, Colangelo said in a phone interview Sunday. "If I did get a call I'd certainly take the call," the head of USA Basketball said. "I still think I have some juice left. I don't need to do anything, and I'm not seeking anything, but if the right situation presented itself and met my criteria, I would listen." Colangelo repeated his contention in a CBSSports.com report that he'd had no contact with Prokhorov or any Nets officials to date. But with Thorn set to retire on July 15, and with the Russian billionaire said to be enamored of Colangelo's gold-medal showing in Beijing, the former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks is favored to be a candidate for Thorn's job. "I've been following the Nets' situation for a long time, just from my years in the NBA," Colangelo said of the move to Newark and scheduled move to Brooklyn. "It's been an ongoing saga, and at some point they've got to get to the finish line. There are all kinds of hills to climb, and they've been hemorrhaging for years, but there's no reason all of that can't work itself out so the Nets can turn into a very successful franchise very soon." - ESPN
The LeBron James sweepstakes will kick off in Ohio on his home turf Thursday as five teams — the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat, the Knicks, the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers — travel there in an attempt to woo James away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, an executive of one of the teams in the hunt said Saturday. But the meetings might not be much more than a formality. The executive, who did not want to be identified discussing a player who is not yet a free agent, said he had gathered from discussions with his fellow N.B.A. executives that James was strongly leaning toward joining the Bulls in tandem with another free agent, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors. “I think it’s a done deal,” the executive said. - New York Times
It will come down to knowing that the Knicks can sign two "max" free agents and still have enough cap space to sign another significant free agent next summer. Although the Bulls and Heat are clearing cap space, several people familiar with James' thinking believe that the Knicks are still his desired destination if he elects to leave Cleveland in his rearview mirror. "He told me after the Olympics he wanted to live in New York," said one source. "And as far as I know nothing has changed." -New York Daily News
The Knicks had contacted celebrity restaurateurs and Knicks fans Danny Meyer, Phil Suarez and Drew Nieporent about preparing an elegant dinner party in Manhattan for LeBron James and his advisors at some point after the free-agency period begins at midnight Wednesday, according to sources. But those plans will have to be scrapped after James' longtime manager, Maverick Carter, announced yesterday that LeBron does not want to stage an elaborate recruiting tour and prefers to meet with the Knicks and other teams on neutral turf. "LeBron is not going on a tour," Carter told ESPN.com. "He never planned to go on a tour and has not been a part of any team's plans for a recruiting trip." - New York Post
Houston is considered a key figure because of his connection with the Knicks and ability to speak on the team's glorious past, according to a source. D'Antoni had a good feeling about James' intentions when he spent a lot of time with him during the Summer Olympics two years ago. But a lot has happened since, and the Knicks are consensus underdogs to land James, with the Bulls, because of their $31 million of cap space and deeper corps, emerging as favorites if he leaves Cleveland. - New York Post
As the Bulls finalize their pitch, which sources said will be low-key and business-like, management knows its salary-cap space of roughly $30 million trails only the Knicks' $34 million. Failed attempts to trade Luol Deng or James Johnson prove management knows that falls just short of offering maximum contracts — which will start at roughly $16.5 million---to James and another player. - Chicago Tribune
One of the easiest ways to upset James in any conversation is to imply that he doesn't have final control, either on the court or off. Suggest that he doesn't make every key decision with his commercials, playing time or investments and you'll have an angry 6-8, 250-pounder to deal with. It isn't that James doesn't listen to friends and so-called advisors. He has put people in place around him for the very purpose of getting trusted advice. But they'll all tell you that James doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. Whether it is an interview, a charity event or a business venture, James may not do the little details, but he makes the big call. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
They’ll gauge James’ interest first, on Thursday morning. The Nets will bring along a sizeable contingent to recruit the game’s most dynamic star, with owner Mikhail Prokhorov and partner Jay-Z doing most of the talking. According to those familiar with the sales pitch, it will be a “low-key” approach, with the Russian billionaire using two or three hours to illuminate what he can do for James’ image and reputation on a global scale, and try to get James to specify what other player he would have the team sign. - Newark Star-Ledger
The Knicks are deadly fearful of tampering charges and the news account of the elaborate dinner proved to be a minor setback. All in all, it was a bad few days for the Knicks considering that Chicago and Miami both made trades to create enough salary cap space to potentially sign two “max” free agents. Two such free-agent targets, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, have agreed to visit New York, but Wade is almost certain to re- sign with the Heat. Bosh, meanwhile, is expected to leave Toronto. - New York Daily News
Chris Bosh told us Saturday he hasn't decided what team he will sign with but is seriously considering Miami and expects to meet with Heat officials after free agency starts July 1. Also Saturday, Yahoo.com reported the Heat will be one of six teams granted a meeting with LeBron James. - Miami Herald
If Bosh signs, it also means the Heat will need a center in free agency, with Brendan Haywood or re-signing Joel Anthony among the options. Among power forwards, Bosh is Miami's top preference, with Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer also on its radar. One concern for Heat fans is Toronto receiving a sign-and-trade offer for Bosh that's more enticing than what Miami has to offer (Beasley, future draft picks), unless a third team is involved. Bosh could make $125 million over six years if he re-signs with Toronto (to stay or more likely for purposes of a sign-and-trade), or $97 million over five years otherwise. - Miami Herald
In Utah, Boozer also developed a good relationship with coach Jerry Sloan, whose offense fit his abilities perfectly and always been defended him in the face of criticism. So why is Boozer considered a long shot to stay? No. 1, the Jazz probably won’t offer him as much money as under-the-salary-cap teams like New York , New Jersey, Chicago or Washington. It could take close to a max contract to sign Boozer, and the Jazz are unlikely to offer one. - Salt Lake Tribune
The Timberwolves say they received no trade offers for Ricky Rubio during Thursday's NBA draft. Plans remain for the point guard, chosen No. 5 overall in last year's draft, to play another season in Spain, then consider Minnesota. "I think it's finally starting to seep in, league-wide, that we're not moving him," Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said. "The word is out — he's not moving." - St. Paul Pioneer Press
Not only the agent of Sergio Rodríguez denies any agreement with Real Madrid. The 23-year-old has also slammed the rumors about his signing for any team, and has declared that he still doesn't know where he will play next season. Rodríguez is at the end of his expiring contract with the New York Knicks, though the NBA team has an option to extend the player to another year. - The Hoops Market
Team sources re-confirmed over the weekend that Nowitzki, as reported by ESPN.com in mid-May, will formally notify the Mavericks and the league office of his decision to walk away from next season's $21.5 million salary before Wednesday's deadline to do so in his current contract. - ESPN
Well, today, Italy-based La Repubblica made that fantastical dream seem just a bit closer to reality. In a piece running on the sports page, Kobe gave the depressed journalists covering the World Cup some bon mots to run with today. “Yes, I would love to end my career in Italy. I have a lot of friends in Emilio [a region in northern Italy] and Milan.” Kobe went on to state that such an occurrence wouldn’t happen anytime soon (to be sure), but did describe the possibility as a “dream.” (The key quote, presumably given in Italian, as Kobe is fluent, reads: “Sì, è vero, mi piacerebbe moltissimo chiudere la mia carriera giocando in Italia. Ho tanti amici a Reggio Emilia e Milano. Adesso no, ma è un sogno che realizzerò”) - Ball In Europe
Miller and guard Ray Allen are expected to be the Celtics’ two top priorities in free agency following the retirement of Rasheed Wallace and a knee injury to Kendrick Perkins. - Yahoo! Sports
Jerry Colangelo will listen to New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov about replacing Rod Thorn as team president if Prokhorov chooses to reach out to him, Colangelo said in a phone interview Sunday. "If I did get a call I'd certainly take the call," the head of USA Basketball said. "I still think I have some juice left. I don't need to do anything, and I'm not seeking anything, but if the right situation presented itself and met my criteria, I would listen." Colangelo repeated his contention in a CBSSports.com report that he'd had no contact with Prokhorov or any Nets officials to date. But with Thorn set to retire on July 15, and with the Russian billionaire said to be enamored of Colangelo's gold-medal showing in Beijing, the former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks is favored to be a candidate for Thorn's job. "I've been following the Nets' situation for a long time, just from my years in the NBA," Colangelo said of the move to Newark and scheduled move to Brooklyn. "It's been an ongoing saga, and at some point they've got to get to the finish line. There are all kinds of hills to climb, and they've been hemorrhaging for years, but there's no reason all of that can't work itself out so the Nets can turn into a very successful franchise very soon." - ESPN
The LeBron James sweepstakes will kick off in Ohio on his home turf Thursday as five teams — the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat, the Knicks, the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers — travel there in an attempt to woo James away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, an executive of one of the teams in the hunt said Saturday. But the meetings might not be much more than a formality. The executive, who did not want to be identified discussing a player who is not yet a free agent, said he had gathered from discussions with his fellow N.B.A. executives that James was strongly leaning toward joining the Bulls in tandem with another free agent, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors. “I think it’s a done deal,” the executive said. - New York Times
It will come down to knowing that the Knicks can sign two "max" free agents and still have enough cap space to sign another significant free agent next summer. Although the Bulls and Heat are clearing cap space, several people familiar with James' thinking believe that the Knicks are still his desired destination if he elects to leave Cleveland in his rearview mirror. "He told me after the Olympics he wanted to live in New York," said one source. "And as far as I know nothing has changed." -New York Daily News
The Knicks had contacted celebrity restaurateurs and Knicks fans Danny Meyer, Phil Suarez and Drew Nieporent about preparing an elegant dinner party in Manhattan for LeBron James and his advisors at some point after the free-agency period begins at midnight Wednesday, according to sources. But those plans will have to be scrapped after James' longtime manager, Maverick Carter, announced yesterday that LeBron does not want to stage an elaborate recruiting tour and prefers to meet with the Knicks and other teams on neutral turf. "LeBron is not going on a tour," Carter told ESPN.com. "He never planned to go on a tour and has not been a part of any team's plans for a recruiting trip." - New York Post
Houston is considered a key figure because of his connection with the Knicks and ability to speak on the team's glorious past, according to a source. D'Antoni had a good feeling about James' intentions when he spent a lot of time with him during the Summer Olympics two years ago. But a lot has happened since, and the Knicks are consensus underdogs to land James, with the Bulls, because of their $31 million of cap space and deeper corps, emerging as favorites if he leaves Cleveland. - New York Post
As the Bulls finalize their pitch, which sources said will be low-key and business-like, management knows its salary-cap space of roughly $30 million trails only the Knicks' $34 million. Failed attempts to trade Luol Deng or James Johnson prove management knows that falls just short of offering maximum contracts — which will start at roughly $16.5 million---to James and another player. - Chicago Tribune
One of the easiest ways to upset James in any conversation is to imply that he doesn't have final control, either on the court or off. Suggest that he doesn't make every key decision with his commercials, playing time or investments and you'll have an angry 6-8, 250-pounder to deal with. It isn't that James doesn't listen to friends and so-called advisors. He has put people in place around him for the very purpose of getting trusted advice. But they'll all tell you that James doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. Whether it is an interview, a charity event or a business venture, James may not do the little details, but he makes the big call. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
They’ll gauge James’ interest first, on Thursday morning. The Nets will bring along a sizeable contingent to recruit the game’s most dynamic star, with owner Mikhail Prokhorov and partner Jay-Z doing most of the talking. According to those familiar with the sales pitch, it will be a “low-key” approach, with the Russian billionaire using two or three hours to illuminate what he can do for James’ image and reputation on a global scale, and try to get James to specify what other player he would have the team sign. - Newark Star-Ledger
The Knicks are deadly fearful of tampering charges and the news account of the elaborate dinner proved to be a minor setback. All in all, it was a bad few days for the Knicks considering that Chicago and Miami both made trades to create enough salary cap space to potentially sign two “max” free agents. Two such free-agent targets, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, have agreed to visit New York, but Wade is almost certain to re- sign with the Heat. Bosh, meanwhile, is expected to leave Toronto. - New York Daily News
Chris Bosh told us Saturday he hasn't decided what team he will sign with but is seriously considering Miami and expects to meet with Heat officials after free agency starts July 1. Also Saturday, Yahoo.com reported the Heat will be one of six teams granted a meeting with LeBron James. - Miami Herald
If Bosh signs, it also means the Heat will need a center in free agency, with Brendan Haywood or re-signing Joel Anthony among the options. Among power forwards, Bosh is Miami's top preference, with Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer also on its radar. One concern for Heat fans is Toronto receiving a sign-and-trade offer for Bosh that's more enticing than what Miami has to offer (Beasley, future draft picks), unless a third team is involved. Bosh could make $125 million over six years if he re-signs with Toronto (to stay or more likely for purposes of a sign-and-trade), or $97 million over five years otherwise. - Miami Herald
In Utah, Boozer also developed a good relationship with coach Jerry Sloan, whose offense fit his abilities perfectly and always been defended him in the face of criticism. So why is Boozer considered a long shot to stay? No. 1, the Jazz probably won’t offer him as much money as under-the-salary-cap teams like New York , New Jersey, Chicago or Washington. It could take close to a max contract to sign Boozer, and the Jazz are unlikely to offer one. - Salt Lake Tribune
The Timberwolves say they received no trade offers for Ricky Rubio during Thursday's NBA draft. Plans remain for the point guard, chosen No. 5 overall in last year's draft, to play another season in Spain, then consider Minnesota. "I think it's finally starting to seep in, league-wide, that we're not moving him," Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said. "The word is out — he's not moving." - St. Paul Pioneer Press
Not only the agent of Sergio Rodríguez denies any agreement with Real Madrid. The 23-year-old has also slammed the rumors about his signing for any team, and has declared that he still doesn't know where he will play next season. Rodríguez is at the end of his expiring contract with the New York Knicks, though the NBA team has an option to extend the player to another year. - The Hoops Market
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